just an ordinary goddess…

…will burn in hell.

At least according to opponents of marriage equality.

Of course we all want to know where these bigoted opponents are going with their arguments before we enter into discussions with them. Thankfully Patrick Farley has created a helpful flow chart to give us a heads up on the genesis (and exodus) of the straightforward anti-marriage-equality “logic.” (Which doesn’t resemble Earth logic.)

(H/T to the newly West-Coasted bstewart.)

This may be my favorite recipe quote ever:

Tarragon, as a herb, is slightly haughty but at least he swings both ways. He’s quite happy to be the consummate romantic, whispering sweet nothings into the ear of Madam Strawberry, but he’s just as pleased to rub his savory bits all over Mr. Asparagus, who honestly thought he was just coming over to watch a movie. Silly asparagus. It’s never just a movie.

From Strawberry, Asparagus and Pine Nut Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette at Choosy Beggars.

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama said that he supported the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and called for the repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).

Since becoming president, Obama and his administration has, for the most part, been curiously silent on the subject, saying little more than, “These things take time.” A recent legal brief from this administration’s Department of Justice has merely fueled the fire of those criticizing Obama’s inaction on LGBT issues, especially since the Senior Legal Counsel on the brief received a Distinguished Service Award from Alberto Gonzalez for his work on the constitutional challenges to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.

Today Obama signed a presidential memo granting same-sex partners of federal employees some federal benefits. Unfortunately, this memo does not go so far as to grant health or retirement benefits.

Critics of Obama’s LGBTQ inaction are likening it to a token thrown at the LGBTQ community, saying,“Tokens are not enough.”

These critics are correct. Tokens are not enough. While there is no way of knowing for certain, it is very likely that Obama would not have signed the memo had it not been for the recent outcry against his DOJ or the constant pressure from LGBTQ groups and individuals.

However, we also have to recognize that this is a positive first step towards full Federal rights for LGBTQ people. There is still a long way to go and a hell of lot of work to do. It’s unfortunate that Obama needs to be pushed to keep his campaign promises. Yes, he has a lot on his plate trying to fix the extraordinary mess left behind by Bush and Friends. But a simple executive order placing a moratorium on DADT until a full repeal can be implemented would go a long way towards showing that he really is a staunch advocate of full equality.

Still, we must keep the pressure up. Equality is a matter of time - there is no turning back. Obama will see that as well.

Crossposted from SoCal Grassroots: Keeping the Left Coast Blue

‘Round about my birthday day I received an interesting email with an interesting enclosure:

My first thought was, Wow! That’s a hell of a lot of chocolate! My second, third and fourth thoughts were of gratitude to a rocking bunch of ladies. I love a good piece of chocolate and I’d heard from Tania and Michelle that this was most excellent chocolate. Even better, the chocolatier was headquartered in Los Angeles. Yay!

It was awhile before I could use the gift certificate, though. I was hesitant to order online because 1) the weather has been unpredictable and I didn’t want to receive a bunch of melted chocolate due to a heat wave (which we haven’t really had, though I never know from day to day if it’s going to be a cold day or hot day) and 2) my apartment building isn’t ideal for receiving packages.

I considered going to one of the farmers’ markets which Nina lists on her site, and CuteFilmNerd and I finally went to the one in Brentwood. I found Nina’s booth and chatted with her for a little bit while CuteFilmNerd went off to play with some Lhaso Apsos at a rescue booth. She is a sweet person, with a personality that was still bubbly after late nights and long hours preparing and shipping Father’s Day candy. We got there pretty late, so she was out of several of her varieties, including the malt candy bar, which I was especially interested in trying. I bought about $40 of candy, though, some of which I gave to CuteFilmNerd and my roommate, as a small token of appreciation for lugging my ass around town.

I kept most of it for myself, though, as it was part of a birthday present from such a wonderful group of women.

Taken after I’d eaten most of the candy

Yesterday I polished off the two peanut butter bars I’d kept:

Most excellent indeed, with little surprise bursts of honey and strawberry jam. My first bite, which included the strawberry jam, actually made me laugh.

The caramels are smooth, sweet and buttery with just a hint of smokiness and kosher salt. I still have some of those left, but I don’t know how much longer they’ll last. Considering I’m not a huge caramel fan (I find most of them far too sweet), these are perfect.

But for me the pièce de résistance were the Scotch candy bars:

Oh. My. Ganache and caramel enrobed in dark chocolate using high quality ingredients would be enough to get me all Pavlovian, but the ganache was laced with Talisker 1992 Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch. I’m not a scotch drinker, but it took the candy to an incredible level, giving it depth. Even more incredible - sea salt sprinkled on top, giving it a wonderful finish. I ate the second (and last) of them just a few moments ago, and am looking sadly at the empty wrapper, wishing there were more.

Well, I still have about $60 left on the gift certificate - I may have to stock up on Scotch candy bars.

Thank you again, UCF ladies. And, again- wow.

…but the memories will live on.

There is much to tell of one and one half days of UCF trollopy goodness: leaving a raining Los Angeles on Friday and arriving 2 1/2 hours later via Greyhound bus in sunny Downtown San Diego (an area I’m very familiar with, thanks to Democratic and journaling conventions); standing on a nearby street corner with rolling suitcase in one hand and cell phone in the other as I tried to help an SUV of not-yet-drunken trollops find me; being flagged down by passengers of said SUV, who then flashed a “Drunken Trollops” sign as I approached the now-parked vehicle (much to the amusement of several passers-by), with all the attendant hugging and squeeing and loading of luggage.

Then to the illustrious Taco Chop to pick up lunch and on to the Mechanicky Home for drinks and lunch and copious amounts of junk food. Loot was given, gardens were toured, avocados were “stolen” from a next-door neighbor - in full view of neighbor, who was heartily amused by the tree-climbing antics of the more athletic of the group (Anne and Mechanicky Gal) and the attempts of Janiece and myself to catch the dropped avocados without putting down our drinks.

More talking and drinking and laughing commenced, to be followed by dinner as we were accompanied by the awesome Mechanicky Guy to another yummy Mexican restaurant (veggie fajitas and sweet alcoholic coffee drinks FTW!) and then more drinking and snacking and laughing and talking back at the homestead. Some texting was done, but discretion dictates that I not reveal whether the participants were sober or inebriated. Ahem. We turned in rather early, as folks were tired from traveling.

Saturday dawned with the Trollops more or less intact and up at a relatively decent hour. In honor of Eric, for breakfast I decided to have the Crunchberries - how can the berries not be real fruit? I was (and am) stunned.

After coffee and coffee cake, we thought it best to present our best selves to the world by showering. How were we to know what an adventure that would prove as we confronted a water-loving insect the size of a Volvo? Or that said Volvo insect would send two Navy vets, an architect with experience on construction sites and a born and bred Navy brat who has survived the trenches of political theater running and squealing like a bunch of five year old girls? Mechanicky Gal ended up dispatching the beast (with my shoe) and Anne removed his remains from the scene of the crime and we continued with our separate ablutions.

The Trollops descended upon a spa, with lovely results, then enjoyed Indian and Middle Eastern food at a nearby food court, followed by swinging by Cost Plus for getting of good deals (whereupon Janiece handed me the most awesome Pez dispensers ever - I had almost gotten them at a White Elephant Holiday party in December and had them snatched away, so you can imagine my delight) and headed back for more drinking and snacking and TWDP (texting while drinking port). Anne wowed us with her homemade baked brie and strawberry tarts, Mechanicky Gal complemented the Devon clotted cream I’d gotten at Cost Plus with freshly baked cranberry walnut scones and I narrowly avoided eating so much that I needed to be rolled out the door. More photos were taken, then, alas, I had to be on my way to catch my bus back home.

After a slight detour in the direction of the airport (uh, yeah, we meant to do that - look at all the pretty boats!), I was dropped off as close to the Greyhound station as downtown parking permitted (which was actually pretty close), with hugging and promises of doing this again, though maybe closer to the center or East Coast of the United States (though I insisted that if they were back on the West Coast, they all needed to head up to L.A. for a day). And off I went, to be carried into the night to my home city and picked up by my dear CuteFilmNerd, ending the night in his arms.

*sigh*

Ya know, I’ve been bouncing around these interwebs for over a decade now. I’ve met some terrific people from all over the world thanks to the internet, including my dear friend Linda and, of course, CuteFilmNerd. I can’t say that I’ve ever had a truly bad experience in my dealings with people met via the intertubes. This past weekend was no exception. While I didn’t expect otherwise, Anne and Janiece are exactly who they seem to be when reading words on a screen: fun, intelligent, hawt - strong women with definite opinions and soft hearts. Mechanicky Gal is also made of the same stuff, in addition to being the hostess with the mostest - gracious as all get out.

Seriously, ladies, thanks for such a fun time. I can’t wait to do this again.

(Though maybe leave out the drunken waterfront bar brawls next time? I don’t think I’ve recovered yet…)

(Also, there was knitting. Mechanicky Gal’s knitting looked too difficult, but Janiece’s looked doable. I may have to give that a shot.)

How can you not love this?

A gallery can be found at the Guardian and the sculptures can be found at the artist’s website.

I think we need a little cheering up around this place. Who better than the inimitable Madeline Kahn and Grover?

*************************

Tomorrow I’ll be headed south to San Diego, where I will finally be meeting two of the fantabulous UCF Trollops, Janiece and Anne, along with Janiece’s friend (and frequent commenter to her blog) Mechanicky Girl. We’ll be doing girly stuff like drinking alcohol, swearing up a blue streak (hey, with two Navy vets and a Navy brat along for the ride, what d’ya expect?), eating excellent Mexican food and getting into bar brawls on the waterfront. With a little spa time thrown in for good measure.

I am very much looking forward to it. Yea!

Like most people, I was very sad to hear about the cold-blooded murder of Dr. George Tiller on Sunday when he was at church. He performed the procedures many doctors were afraid to do - late-term abortions that were deemed medically necessary to save the life of the mothers or where doctors had confirmed that the fetus would not live outside the womb. Dr. Tiller had been shot before, had many death threats and was forced to wear a bullet-proof vest on a regular basis, but he refused to give into the fear that gripped so many of his colleagues because, as he reportedly told a woman recently, he feared that the women he helped would have no place else to turn.

Candlelight vigils are still being held all over the country, but as Gloria Feldt wrote in Salon, George Tiller needs more than candlelight vigils. As always, write and lobby your representatives. Donate in Dr. Tiller’s name to Planned Parenthood and to the women’s health clinics in your area. Make your voice heard.

(Fellow UCFer Janiece at Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men and Mike at Man About Murfreesboro each have excellent posts regarding this tragedy and the cowardice of the anti-abortion faction. Go there.)

*************************
A little something about my own views on abortion: I am of the opinion that they should be safe, legal and rare. I’ve always known that it was something I could never personally go through, but I am of the firm belief that women should have that choice. The women I’ve known that have had abortions never considered it a decision made lightly and I respect their decisions.

Of the people I’ve known that are anti-abortion, only one could be considered pro-life in the true sense of the term: fellow UCFer Michelle is a pacifist who is against abortion and the death penalty. Unlike so many anti-abortion people who mistakenly call themselves “pro-life,” she actually believes that every child that is born should be provided for and not left to fend for himself/herself in dangerous home situations. She doesn’t self-identify as Christian, but she embodies the teachings of Jesus far more completely than any religious anti-abortion nut protesting outside women’s health clinics. I highly respect that.

As for my thoughts on late-term abortion, I sincerely hope that they would never be necessary, but I understand that in some cases they may be. It’s truly sad that women in need have lost one of their champions - one of the few doctors left that they could turn to.

My thoughts go out to Dr. Tiller’s family, to all the women that he helped and to all the women he could’ve helped.

*************************
Updated: 6/2/09 - 3:45pm

There is some discussion about who, besides the assassin who committed this foul deed, should be blamed for Dr. Tiller’s death. There is definitely an argument to to be made that Bill O’Reilly and his ilk have blood on their hands:

H/T to bstewart23 at This. That. No Other. for the Keith Olbermann clip.

From Sheril Kirshenbaum:

Today begins a very important initiative called Silence Is The Enemy to help a generation of young women half a world away.Why? Because they are our sisters and children–the victims of sexual abuse who don’t have the means to ask for help. We have power in our words and influence. Along with our audience, we’re able to speak for them. I’m asking all of you–bloggers, writers, teachers, and concerned citizens–to use whatever platform you have to call for an end to the rape and abuse of women and girls in Liberia and around the world.

In regions where fighting has formally ended, rape continues to be used as a weapon. As Nicholas Kristof recently wrote from West Africa, ‘it has been easier to get men to relinquish their guns than their sense of sexual entitlement.’ The war has shattered norms, training some men to think that ‘when they want sex, they need simply to overpower a girl.’ An International Rescue Committee survey suggests 12 percent of girls aged 17 and under acknowledged having been sexually abused in some way over the previous 18 months. Further, of the 275 new sexual violence cases treated Jan-April by Doctors Without Borders, 28 percent involve children aged 4 or younger, and 33 percent involve children aged 5 through 12. That’s 61% age 12 or under. We read about their plight and see the figures, but it’s so easy to feel helpless to act in isolation. But these are not statistics, they are girls. Together we can do more. Mass rape persists because of inertia so let’s create momentum.

If you’re on Facebook, please join the group Silence Is The Enemy. If you have a blog, please join the blogger coalition. Write your representative. Donate to Doctors Without Borders.

If we all band together to spread the word, silence can no longer be a refuge for cowardice.

(Oops, I got so up in arms I forgot to give credit where credit is due: tip o’ the hat to The Bad Astronomer.)

Not surprisingly - but very disappointingly - the California Supreme Court has voted to uphold Proposition 8 on the grounds that “the voters were within their rights to approve a constitutional amendment redefining marriage to include only male-female couples.”

However, the court has upheld the right for the 18,000+ same-sex marriages performed between June and November 2008 to stand. Which means that California currently has three classes of people: those heterosexual couples who can get married at the drop of any hat; same-sex couples that were married during the short window of time that same-sex marriages were legal in California (and who will most likely be facing a fight against bigots who will work to invalidate their marriages); same-sex couples who, as it currently stands, can never get married in their state of residence.

This is untenable. There are marches and rallies planned all across the United States tonight. If you want to show your support for marriage equality for all American citizens, please attend one of these marches in your city. You can also get a free sticker or purchase some “I Do” or “Love Unites merchandise.

Civil rights always win out in the end. Let’s work to make it happen sooner than later.

I’ve written before about my love for Sligo Rags, but in listening to my iTunes, “Ordinary Man” popped up, which is my favorite Sligo Rags song ever - and one that is especially timely in today’s economic and job environment. Breaks my heart every damned time I listen to it.

Unfortunately, I can’t embed it or blip it, because they are (understandably) very proprietary over their music, but I can point you to a place you can listen to it online. Do so. Buy or download the album from whence it came (The Night Before the Morning After…). You won’t regret it.

(Another favorite: “Black is the Color” - freaking gorgeous.)

…because since the beginning of May Maine has legalized same-sex marriage and New Hampshire looks like it’ll follow suit.

This is great news for the marriage equality movement and even better news for the metaphorical make-out sofa manufacturers, because my make-out sofa is getting too small and it looks like I’ll have to buy bigger and bigger sofas as more and more states come on board to supporting the civil rights of all citizens.

…and pretty damned accurate:

Your result for The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)…

The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF)

Quirky Liberal Alpha Female

Take The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?) at HelloQuizzy

Many years ago, when I started exploring these here interwebs, I briefly participated in an online news group known as alt.society.generation-x. I enjoyed my time there, but drifted off elsewhere as I discovered other things.

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the old place, though. My first boyfriend was a regular there, which is how I found the place and participated in the disguise of Francaise (prior to Google there were DejaNews and AltaVista and searching for Names From The Past was already a common past-time - that boyfriend and I are on friendly terms now). It’s where I discovered John Scalzi, whom I credit as being my inadvertent blog daddy. And there were many people who were amongst the sharpest people it had ever been my pleasure to read. It’s where I learned the importance of backing up your assertions with verifiable proof and that snarky humor could be an art form in and of itself.

Two of the participants of alt.society.generation-x were Peter Dubuque and Steve Kleinedler, a lovely couple whom I could never really say that I knew - due to my own shyness - but whose newsgroup postings were always amongst the best I’ve ever read. Like everything and everyone else about alt.society.generation-x, I remembered them fondly and was surprised when John Scalzi announced that Peter had passed away unexpectedly. I was in shock, as were many people who knew him, however tangentially.

Today in AMERICAblog, Peter’s husband Steve talks about how important it is that he and Peter had been married in Massachusetts for the last four-and-a-half years and how it’s made an difference in this difficult time.

Go over there - it’s important reading.

(H/T to John Scalzi.)

…married gay people! And they’re doing all this!

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

If you want to help build the Giant Gay Repellent Umbrella, go to www.giantgayrepellentumbrella.com. Because the storm is getting worser and worser. And wind chill will definitely be a factor, so bundle up.

(Someday I will post real content. Probably.)

I offer you photographic evidence:

From just an ordinary goddess..

I may need help.

see more dog and puppy pictures

That it has been…

Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent
Uploaded by dwarthy

Wow. What a voice.

In addition (aside from the fact that this is a stunning rendition of one of my top two favorite songs from Les Miserables) the expression on Simon Cowell’s face at 4:02 is priceless.

What an adorable and wonderfully talented woman.

Is homophobia associated with homosexual arousal?

Both groups exhibited increases in penile circumference to the heterosexual and female homosexual videos. Only the homophobic men showed an increase in penile erection to male homosexual stimuli. The groups did not differ in aggression. Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies.

Well, now we’s got science to back up our previous suppositions.

Problem is, many of the folks who could benefit from this knowledge generally deny that science has any validity, so I don’t know that letting a homophobe know that well, maybe there’s some serious denial going on is going to do any good.

(Tip o’ the hat to Brian.)